Analysis Of Race To The Top Of What? Education Is About More Than Jobs

Andrew Simmons published his article for The Atlantic, “The Danger of Telling Poor Kids that College is the Key to Social Mobility” on January 16, 2014, which raises his concerns that higher education is only being promoted as an opportunity to increase their economic status, when it should be an opportunity to experience an education (Simmons). Through the use of students such as Isabella, Simmons disagrees with the way students now look at higher education and blames the educators through the students’ lives for this view. Instead, Simmons views education as an intellectual opportunity rather than a way to elevate ones economic class which is all people see when they see “higher education.” He believes that education, ambition and work ethic is how you have a satisfying life, not with how much you make. He makes the point that when economics becomes the main goal of education it’s all children begin to think about and they might not pursue something that they are truly passionate about or what they want to learn about, which then does not create an intellectually awakening experience (Simmons).

John Spayde’s article What Does it Mean to Be Educated (June 1998) offers insight into the world of philosophical questions and studies of our educational system. Spayde shares and responds to the opinions of different novelists, journalists, professors, and colleges that have taken a stance on what it means to be educated. His article briefly covers topics such as; educational decisions, financial division, entitlement, humanities, and technology. Spayde also discusses the importance of being connected and learning from a real-life experience. Spayde believes that having a connection to the world around you allows you to use any experience as a learning mechanism to further your education.

The public school system of America is the driving force of the nation’s job market. There is a direct correlation between the nation’s job market and the nation’s economic opulence. Despite education being at an all-time high for tax dollars spent, the heightened accessibility of schools across the country, and continuation of schooling after high school more than ever, the public school system of the United States continues to pump out insufficient workers to the work force. For almost two hundred years, the citizens of America have held a belief that going through the school system will be the necessary element to the life one wants to live in America. Over the years, schooling emitted a false hope that made job assurance possible. Fifty

Many who read this prompt may believe it will have no impact on readers to value education anymore. What is false about that statement, or wrong, is that even if it may not pursue them it will pursue others. Even if one was pursued in the world this article would be successful. The author did a tremendous job describing his endeavors within a horrible workplace by relating it to how much he truly believed schooling was important and worth whatever difficult tasks it took to get through

Education is a wonderful asset to anyone. With a good one the sky is the limit, and without one opportunity may never come knocking. In today’s society, so much emphasis is put on education. How many times have we heard the saying “if you get a good education, you’ll get a good job and make a lot of money”? Even today, my parents remind me of how much a college degree would add to my marketability. But when does it become too much? Is it possible that one could overlook the more important values in life in search to become a “learned man”? In Richard Rodriguez’s story Challenging The Traditional Classroom he examines his life as a student, and the affects his learning has towards his attitude about family and heritage.

Michelle Obama’s “Bowie State University Commencement Speech” and Mike Rose’s “Blue-Collar Brilliance” both address the similar theme of a higher education. Obama motivates her audience by connecting to the fight for education by African Americans and the drive required to complete a higher education throughout history. Obama’s central argument is to inspire the graduates, such as previous generations have done, to encourage future generations to care about their education, continue on with higher learning, and also to get them back on track if they begin to stray. Obama cites multiple statistics such as ones that declared educated African Americans actually live longer and make more money than those without a degree or who have dropped out of high school. On the other hand, Rose addresses the common held belief that work requiring less schooling also requires less intelligence. Rose provided two stories; one about his mother Rosie, and one about her brother Joe, neither of whom finished high school. Rose declares that their lack of institutionalized education did not mean they were not educated in other ways. In their lines of work, one at a factory and one at a restaurant, required a combined demand of both body and mind. The primary thesis Rose is trying to point out is that our society today devalues everyday learning and we offer limited educational opportunities that cause us to reinforce cultural divides. My feelings on the issue of higher education are mixed. While I

In an interview with a local elementary school teacher Elizabeth Romero, when asked the question “Why teach at the elementary level versus teacher higher up such as high school or college?” , She responded with the answer “ I believe that in this time of the kids life is the most influential. If I as a teacher can teach these kids the rights things to do and prepare them for the future than I believe that they all can do great things with their lives.” Mrs. Romero began teaching at the age back in 2004 originally teaching high school. She realized that there was only a select few who chose to excel in their studies. In her words “…some were what some would call lost causes but there were only a select few who put real efforts into their studies.” It was at that moment that

Individuals with exceptional talent, exceptional motivation, or an exceptional bloodline, are commonly dubbed as the “elite”. These “elite” students often seek prestigious educational institutions to expand their opportunities to a new level. Preparatory schools like Hotchkiss and Saint Paul’s School fit the definition of prestigious institutions. The lessons these schools provide are very valuable to alumni, propelling them to a greater level of educational enlightenment, and preparing them for college and beyond. However, the leg-up these schools grant extend only to those enrolled, and may even detract from the education of the “masses”, or society as a whole. Hotchkiss and Saint Paul’s have a combined endowment of over one billion dollars, money that could be used to greatly improve some of the most impoverished school districts across the United States. Money is not the only resource taken up by these schools. Additional elements drained from public schools include dedicated faculty, a level playing field, and even the bright students themselves, as schools now lack certain role models to demonstrate motivation and success on multiple stages.

America is still the land of opportunity and people still strive and succeed in their quest for self-improvement. And in no other aspect of America can this opportunity to succeed and their striving for betterment be as so clearly seen than in Americans obsession to achieve education at the highest levels. 94 percent of Americans believe that Education is important and 73 percent agree that higher education is “essential for getting a good job” (Source F). This symbolizes how Americans see education as the outlet to achieve affluence, success and a “better,” “high[er] quality of life” (source F). Furthermore, the many scholarships offered by schools, one of which mentioned by Obama in Source B, displays another aspect of the education system that provides opportunities for self-improvement, if earned through hard work, for an individual by providing a chance to obtain higher education no matter what background one comes from. In essence, education has become the primary path to achieve an improved standing on both a societal and individual

America’s education system is one of the most respectable, reputable and sought after commodities in our society, but it is also the most overcrowded, discriminatory, and controversial system ever established. Most people yearn for a higher education because it 's what 's expected in this society in order to get ahead. It means a better job, more money, power, prestige and a sense of entitlement. But this system has let down the children that are supposed to benefit from it. Education discriminates against minorities, and poorer class students are not expected nor encouraged to attain a higher education. The education system is set up to ensure that every child get a basic

In the speech, “Here I Stand” by Erica Goldson, she confronts the U.S schooling system. The valedictorian starts off with a small story which is about how you shouldn’t focus on one goal but should have many goals. She then goes into how she is an amazing student and never misses an assignment, but even she is scared for life outside of school, because all she did was excell at every subject for the purpose of excelling not for the purpose of learning. She then gives some quotes and ideas that support the same idea she is trying to tell all of us. Then Goldson relates to her life, and talks about a avant-grade teacher that tries to inspire her rather than just train them for the jobs that are already set in life. She then learns how passion should be our motivation, not money, and how we need to use our minds for innovation not memorization. Lastly, Erica clarifies that she's

While the educational gap among high-income neighborhoods and low-income neighborhoods is large, there is also a large gap between white and minority students in the United States. Educational opportunities for students have continued to be separate but equal; In the article “Unequal Opportunity: Race and Education” by Linda Darling-Hammond, she draws attention to “the striking differences between public schools serving students of color in urban settings and their suburban counterparts, which typically spend twice as much per student for populations with many fewer special needs” (Darling-Hammond). Students in states with low educational funding budgets and students who go to schools where the majority of students are minorities, often do

The cost of an education in America has steadily increased over the last decade making it near impossible for some to even dream of furthering their education. We have placed such a big significance on this piece of paper that even with the experience in hand you may not even be looked at for a job without a degree. On the same note you may receive a glance but miss the opportunity because of a lack of experience. A person must sit back and think will the rewards of furthering my education outweigh the cost and future financial burden.

As an aspiring educator, I believe that education is the key to social mobility, and with this in mind, I asked my relatives a series of questions regarding their schooling experience. I asked them the following questions: what were some hardships you faced during your schooling experience (elementary, middle, high school, college), do you feel like you got the most out of your education, if you could change something about your past education, what would you change, would better schooling have made a difference, and do you feel like you’ve achieved the California Dream? For my reflection, I will focus on the bolded questions, sharing the responses from my relatives along with my analysis. Through listening and interpreting my relatives schooling experiences, I’ve concluded for myself that the California Dream is a myth with many nuances – one of them being education’s

The education we receive today holds the power to shape the individuals we will be in the future. Not only does our education aid our choices throughout school, but also the choices we make in our personal lives like where we choose to work and how we portray ourselves to society. Personally, I have enjoyed my educational experience. I have enjoyed learning new concepts and interacting with new people. Of course, there are obstacles along the way. However, these obstacles have given me the opportunity to realize my strengths and weaknesses and learn to improve in both areas. As a student, I hold onto my perseverance, seek guidance from influential figures in my life, and embrace my challenges to which all contribute to my hope to become the finest version of myself.